Conflict in Israel, Palestine discussed in cooperative event

The event was a effort of the Jewish and Muslim student organizations.

By Daniel Everson

Published Feb. 13, 2009

The Jewish Student Organization and Muslim Student Organization coordinated a discussion to help educate the MU community on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East.

About 35 people, including many students and professors, filled the room to capacity for the discussion last night. Each of three panelists spoke briefly. The panelists then fielded questions from the audience.

"This is an opportunity to come and learn more about the conflict," JSO Special Events Chairwoman Monica Solimani said. "It's not a debate, it's not a rally, it's not a protest."

Religious Studies Chairman Robert Baum was the first panelist to speak.

"Salaam Alaikum. Shalom Aleichem," Baum said. "These are greetings that are so closely related. The languages of Hebrew and Arabic, and much of their tradition, are very much in common."

Baum emphasized the intricate ties between Judaism and Islam. He said conflict only arose in the 20th century when Arabs perceived Jews' return to Israel as an extension of European attempts to control the lives and land of Muslim peoples. In addition to this political dimension, he said, there are religious elements to the conflict because Jerusalem is a holy city in both Judaism and Islam.

"We have an obligation to remind both traditions of their shared account," Baum said. "Peace is only going to be achieved when Palestinians and Israelis recognize that, ironically, their fates are intertwined."

Majed Dweik, president of the Islamic Center of Central Missouri, said the common monotheism of Judaism, Christianity and Islam has allowed followers of these religions to coexist.

"You see Muslims, you see Christians, and you see Jews who live in that area. So religion is not a big factor in that region prior of the political issues," Dweik said. "So the fact that there is a religious issue behind this conflict, I think, it's overblown."

The final speaker was Yossi Feintuch, a lecturer in Judaic studies.

Feintuch said Arabs forget that Jews came to Israel to escape European anti-Semitism. But he also said not all Jews, including his own parents, waited for the Holocaust to return.

"Unfortunately, and this is the very crux of the conflict, that the Palestinian narrative refuses to understand the Jewish narrative that these are lost children returning home, not as settlers to grab up land that wasn't theirs to begin with," Feintuch said.

Solimani said she had the idea to hold an event like last night's discussion when she returned to MU from winter break, during which the turmoil in the Middle East stirred up.

"I was devastated that things hit rock bottom again," she said.

Solimani said she wanted to hold a peaceful event focused on education instead of a rally for Israel in response to the renewed violence like other Hillel groups.

"I wanted an event where people could come and be educated on the topic, on how it all began and why," Solimani said.

MSO spokeswoman Nabihah Maqbool said MSO had been planning a separate event with a similar goal. When she received a flyer for the JSO event, she suggested that JSO and MSO work together on one event.

"It shows a sense of solidarity between the students and the organizations," Maqbool said.

Both Solimani and Maqbool appreciated the discussion of possible solutions to the conflict.

"It was great to see all the speakers agree that there can be a solution," Maqbool said.